In a bid to keep foreign tourists digitally connected when visiting India, the India Government is now offering pre-loaded SIM cards to the tourists.

Minister for Tourism and Culture, Government of India, has launched the free SIM card initiative for foreign nationals visiting India. The initiative would offer foreign tourist arriving in India on e-Visa a pre-loaded SIM card. The ministry has partnered with BSNL to offer the service.

The pre-loaded BSNL SIM card can be availed by any foreign tourist travelling to India on e-Visa. The SIM card is loaded with Rs. 50 talk time and 50 MB data. The service is currently available at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport (T3 Terminal), New Delhi, and would be eventually rolled out to all the 15 international airports with e-Visa facility.

To avail the pre-loaded BSNL SIM cards, foreign tourist travelling to India on e-Visa need to submit a copy of the e-Visa and the first page of the Passport. The SIM card would be issued immediately and would be activated instantly.